“God, Gage, take me to bed, please.”
His eyes narrowed as if he was deciding something. “You had your fun teasing me to madness,” he said. “Now it’s my turn.”
He reached into his dresser and pulled out a scarf. He carried it to the bed. He tied the scarf to the top of the bedpost. I crossed my arms nervously, and at the same time, the tiny morsel of fear made me hotter than ever. He reached for my hand, and I froze at first, not completely sure I wanted to go through with whatever he had in store. He saw my hesitation and stepped in front of me. The heat from his body filled the narrow space between us. He was gigantic and intimidating, like a fucking super human, and I was like a dandelion in a tempest, willowy, weak and completely vulnerable.
He tilted my chin to lift my face. “Know this, Hollywood. I would never, ever do anything to hurt you.”
I nodded weakly.
“Do you trust me?” he said.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Taking extra care not to touch the palm with the stitches, he lifted my hands above my head and tied them together with the anchored scarf. My vulnerability was at a whole new level. I was helpless and completely exposed. I shivered once, not from fear, or from the cold air that brushed across my naked skin. I shivered in expectation. He stood behind me and lifted my hair from my neck, and with a gentle touch that contrasted the fact that he’d just tied me to his bedpost, he caressed my shoulders and back. His large hands, warm and calloused to a level that only added to the luxurious sensation of his touch, reached around and fondled my breasts. His thumb and forefinger teased my erect nipples with tender pinches. My eyes drifted shut, and I lulled my head back against his shoulder. My traitorous legs were leaving me, and I was being held mostly upright by my wrists. His hard cock pressed against the crack of my ass. His hands slid down my belly and his fingers slid between the slick folds of my pussy.
“God, baby, every inch of you is like silk. I can’t stop touching you.” His soft, sensual words caused me to push my ass out hard against him, and I spread my legs farther for his hand.
“That’s right, baby, open up wide for me.” He slid several fingers into me and a small cry escaped me. His hands and his mouth were so skilled, they nearly brought me to orgasm. But I could tell he was holding back. He didn’t want me to come yet, and I didn’t want this to end.
He stepped to the side of me. The glint in his eye scared me and brought me that much closer to coming. While his fingers worked their magic, his hand pushed my ass out farther, and without warning, he delivered a stinging slap to it. I gasped and looked at him with surprise.
He lifted his free hand again. “Yes or no?”
His thumb massaged my throbbing clit, and it seemed somehow to ache that much more with the tingling skin of my ass.
“Yes,” I cried and shut my eyes. The hand on my pussy jutted my bottom out farther. And then his palm slapped my ass again. I sucked in another breath. He pulled his fingers from me, and I moaned in disappointment. The skin on my ass stung from his palm. He knelt behind me and began running a tender trail of kisses along the deliciously sore skin. He pushed my legs apart and reached again for my pussy, drawing me toward his mouth. His tongue curved up and along my throbbing clit before pushing up into my pussy. His hands and mouth explored every intimate part of me. My legs pools of pudding, I was hanging completely from my wrists. My hands began to tingle, but the pleasure was so intense I didn’t want him to stop. My head spun as his tongue flicked over my clit and his fingers found the spot deep inside that made me cry out.
“Gage,” I said, breathlessly, trying to focus and keep from coming, “please,” I begged. “I want you to—”
I was so delirious with desire I hadn’t noticed him untie me. The second I was released from my knitted wool shackles, I sank against him, feeling as if someone had given me a powerful drug. My body quivered, and it seemed every square inch of me pulsated with the need for Gage to touch me. He carried me to the bed and lowered me onto the mattress. His eyes looked as glazed as mine felt. We’d both pushed each other as far as physically possibly without splintering into a million exploding pieces.
He pulled a condom off the nightstand and then stretched out next to me, signaling me to climb on top. Weak and lightheaded, I sat up and straddled my leg over his waist.
Our gazes held strong as he took hold of my waist and lowered me over his cock. My hands pressed against his chest for leverage as I pushed hard against the movement of his hips. His huge cock reached the deepest spot and filled my pussy completely. It took me only three rocking movements of my hips, and my fingers dugs into his skin as I cried out in ecstasy. Before I could catch my breath or regain my wits, he flipped me onto my back. I wrapped my legs around his waist. The headboard shook the wall as he pumped his cock inside of me at a wild pace, his strength even more evident as the bed seemed to shift across the floor. Then his head dropped back and his hoarse groan filled the room. He stayed there deep inside of me for a long moment before dropping down onto the mattress next to me. He pulled me into his arms.
I laid my head on his arm and traced his shoulder tattoo with my finger. The swirl of emotion I was feeling at that moment fell somewhere between euphoria, delirium and utter terror, terror at how easily I’d let myself become attached to a man who was notorious for leaving girls alone and heartbroken. But I couldn’t find the word to match what I was feeling, and so instead, tears fell.
I hid my face against him at first, but he felt the moisture of my tears on his skin.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
I snuggled against him and shook my head. “Not at all. Every second was pure heaven. I guess it was so intense, it made me feel emotional. Sorry for being such a sap.”
I knew he didn’t buy it, but he didn’t ask again.
I needed to lighten the mood or lose myself in the sudden sadness that had gripped me. I wiped the tears off my face. “I guess that’s the last time I’ll tease you about a spanking.”
“You said you weren’t teasing.”
“I also wanted to have sex in the mildew-smelling, spider infested hayloft. This by the way, was well worth the humiliation of being carried across the yard with my naked butt flashing the world.”
“To be honest, as fantastic as your naked ass is, I don’t think it was enough to pull the horses’ attention away from grazing.”
“Don’t know whether to be relieved or insulted by that,” I said.
He smiled and squeezed his arms around me. Even after the light conversation, a serious quiet returned. It seemed we’d both been taken off guard with this whole thing. Only, I worried about the prospect of him walking out, and I had a sinking feeling that he worried about how to make a cool exit.
As if he’d read my mind, he reached down and pushed up my chin so I had no choice except to look right into his face. “Summer, I know you’ve probably heard all kinds of stories about me.”
“A few,” I said. “So, are they all true?”
He didn’t answer.
“Well, shit,” I muttered, wondering where this moment of confession was leading.
“That jealous asshole you saw last night— I’ve never acted that way before about anyone. I just wanted you to know that.”
He released my chin, and I pressed my face back against his chest. I had no idea what to think or which way this was headed, but somehow, I’d managed to complicate my life even more.
chapter 27
Gage
Jericho had left that morning, trying to beat the incoming bad weather and trying to head off some problems with the club back home. Seth tossed his duffle into the bed of the truck, narrowly missing Ranger’s head. The dog gave him a well deserved growl and then curled up for the ride to the airport.
We climbed inside. “We’re going to pick up Summer. She needs a better coat for winter. All she has is her useless west coast shit. Just not going to cut it out here.” We headed up to the road. A mi
d-afternoon rainstorm had dumped some nice chunks of hail, and once the sky had cleared, the temperature had plummeted and the moisture had formed thin patches of ice.
Seth stared at the side of my face.
“When you watch me like that,” I said, “it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.”
He laughed. “My poor bro. My poor, gigantic, emotions of steel brother. I think this gobsmacked thing will be good for you. You might even become more human. I mean it has changed Lukey boy. Although, he was always just a little closer to being part of the human race than you.”
“The shit that comes out of that stupid blabbering mouth of yours,” I said.
We turned down the path to Summer’s house. She came out on the porch wrapped in her impractical coat and high top tennis shoes, which looked great with her skin tight jeans but weren’t going to be protection against the chill in the air.
“She is definitely amazing,” Seth said as he looked at her through the windshield. “Really, bro, I’m happy for you. I think it’s just what you needed.”
Serious moments from Seth were rare.
I stepped out of the truck, and Summer came bounding down the steps. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and the crisp sunlight made her dark eyes a chocolate brown. She hopped up and kissed me on the mouth.
“Move to the backseat, Seth,” Gage said.
“No, that’s silly.” She climbed into the back.
I got in and I drove toward the road. A small car zipped past us as we reached the end of the gravel driveway.
“Hey, that’s those four road trip friends. They told me they were going to drive around Montana before heading to Idaho,” Summer said. “They ate at the restaurant three times while they were in town. Super nice people.”
“He’s driving a little fast for the slick road.”
“So, Seth, are you sad to leave? I know Daisy’s been moping like a wet rag all day,” Summer said.
Seth looked back at her. “Can you blame her?” he said. “I am going to be bummed to leave.” He went to place a hand on my shoulder but then seemed to reconsider and pulled it back. “I’m always glad to see my big brother.”
“I still can’t believe you weld things underwater,” Summer said. “Sounds so damn scary, and with all that gear, I think I’d be claustrophobic wrapped in a rubber suit and mask.”
“It’s like being naked to me, totally natural feeling,” Seth said. “Even though they’re not the most dangerous part of the job, I do still hate to see a shark down there.”
“When you can say that a shark is not the most dangerous part of the job, you seriously need to rethink your employment,” Summer said.
“That’s what I keep telling him,” I said.
Seth laughed. “Yeah, cuz you’re out there in the woods knitting doilies.”
“You both should just come work for me,” Summer suggested. “The biggest danger there is slipping on a spilled beer or burning yourself on the coffee pot, which my new server has done already…twice. But he’s a nice guy, and I really hope he works out. I know— you two could dress in those slick leather pants and wear bow ties with no shirts like those guys at the male dance clubs. Business would boom.” She laughed. “The other night when the three of you walked in, some lady at the counter, who’d just been passing through, asked Rita if there was a male calendar shoot in town because Mr. October, Mr. November and Mr. December had just stepped inside.”
Seth looked at his brother. “I don’t know about you but I feel cheap and tawdry, and she obviously thought I was December.”
I glanced sideways at him. “And why is that?”
“I’m the only one who would look good in a Santa hat.”
“You’ve got a point.”
I peered up in the mirror and looked back at Summer. She was gazing out the window, watching the landscape and smiling to herself. She had the profile of a delicate doll, and I had a hard time pulling my eyes away.
“Hey, Hollywood, I was thinking we should probably look at some all wheel drive cars for you. They are the safest for driving around up here. I’ve got an all wheel drive jeep that I use in the winter. Otherwise, you might get stranded a lot.”
“Sure,” she said, “do you think I can find one for about twenty bucks?”
Seth laughed.
“Your car will be worth something on a trade in,” I said.
Now she laughed.
The truck hydroplaned for a second, and Summer looked up at the mirror.
“See?” I said. “And that was just a thin patch of ice.” Just as I said it, the small car of the road trip group, which was a good mile ahead, hit some ice and spun around like an ice skater.
Summer gasped and sat forward. She grabbed the top of the front seat and screamed as the tiny car skittered sideways into an oncoming truck. The truck driver tried to veer out of the car’s path but clipped it hard enough to send it careening off the road. Smoke billowed out of its engine. I pulled the truck over, and we climbed out to help.
I glanced back at Summer, who trotted tentatively behind us. She was white with shock. “Stay clear of the road. Cars can’t stop easily on this ice,” I called to her.
Seth and I ran toward the car. The front end was smashed in and the windshield had cracked in many places, but the glass remained. I could see a few heads moving around in the car, but no one got out. It seemed that the doors had been jammed shut by the front impact. A flame shot up from under the hood.
“The whole thing is going to blow,” the truck driver called down unhelpfully from the road.
We reached the driver’s side. The guy was staring around from behind the white deflated airbag, looking completely dazed and confused. The car only had two doors, and the one on the driver’s side was wedged shut. The window had shattered but the glass beads hadn’t fallen out.
Seth ran to the other side. “She’s out cold,” he yelled over the top of the car. “The two in the back look better off.”
Another flame lapped up over the crumpled front hood. I grabbed the door handle and yanked it. The fucking thing was locked. I knocked on spidery glass. “Unlock it!”
The guy stared up at me with wide eyes, completely confused and totally out of it. I pulled my shirt down over my knuckles and hit the window. Pebbles of glass cascaded to the ground. I reached in and unlocked it. Seth ran around to my side. We both grabbed the jagged window edge and wrenched the door open.
A minor explosion under the hood made the car jolt forward. The passengers screamed. Seth dragged out the driver, and as he pulled him away, the truck driver finally jumped in to help. He took hold of the man and carried him farther away from the burning car.
I leaned into the vehicle, but the girl in the front seat was unconscious and wedged beneath the dash. I yanked the driver’s seat forward and lent my hand to the terrified girl in the back. She stumbled out and then dropped to her knees. Summer raced forward and helped her up to lead her away from the car.
The second passenger was a male, and he pulled himself easily out of the back. Another explosion lit up the area and sent some intense heat our way.
“We’ve got to get Ginny out,” the guy cried. The three of us went to the passenger side and together we managed to rip the mangled door off. Flames lapped at us and they got dangerously close to the girl inside. The dashboard had been crushed, and it held her legs tightly. Suddenly aware that people were standing over her, she opened her eyes and looked up at us. She lifted her head, glanced around and screamed.
“Ginny, it’s me, Brad. We’re going to get you out.”
I couldn’t get an angle on the dash and there was no room to kick it. Seth and I looked at each other. There was no other choice. In the far distance the sirens blared, but they were still a good five minutes away and car would be engulfed by then. Seth and I climbed onto the hood. Flames shot up around us and Seth’s coat started smoking. I reached over and pressed my palm against the material to smother it. We punched out the rest of the fro
nt window, leaned down inside and grabbed the edge of the dashboard. I looked over at him. “Ready?”
“Yep,” he said.
I looked at Brad. “Be ready to yank her free.” The top of the car felt like molten lava beneath my knees. Smoke burned my eyes, and it was billowing into the car.
“Go!” I yelled. We pulled up hard on the dash, and it lifted far enough for Brad to pull the girl free.
“Holy shit, that’s hot!” Seth jumped clear of the hood and I followed.
It seemed the second we’d cleared the car, flames swarmed the interior. Simultaneously, we doubled over into coughing fits. By the time I could swallow air confidently without choking, the emergency crew had arrived. We’d drawn a crowd of worried onlookers, and I scanned the faces for the one I really needed to see. Summer was kneeled down next to the girl from the backseat. She’d wrapped her coat around the girl’s shoulders and held her hand. As if she’d sensed me watching her, Summer lifted her face and through the wisps of smoke, flashing red lights and utter turmoil that had broken out at the scene, our gazes met. A paramedic walked up to them and he took over.
Summer pushed to her feet. We walked toward each other and then she broke into a run. She jumped into my arms. Her body was trembling, and I pulled my coat around her to shield her from the cold.
She peered up at me through tear covered eyes. “You guys scared the shit out of me.”
I hugged her tightly.
“Mr. Barringer?” A highway patrol officer approached us. Seth was at his side. “Officer Pike.” He stuck out his hand. “Just want to thank you two men for what you did. Those four kids could easily have died. I know your brother mentioned that he has a plane to catch, but if you could just spare a few minutes to give us some details.”
“Sure thing.”
I took my coat off for Summer. “No, I’ll be fine,” she insisted as her chin shivered with the words.
I wrapped it around her shoulders, and before I turned away, she took hold of my hand. The tears had dried, and a faint smile crossed her lips. Then she wrapped her hand behind my neck and pulled my face down for a kiss. “You are something else, Gage Barringer,” she said quietly.